Wednesday, November 28, 2012

CAIR-MI:Rep. Who Claimed Obama is Muslim Pushes Ant-Sharia LawThe bill has been opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and [CAIR-MI]. "HB 4769 does nothing to protect our legal institutions but only contributes to the growing climate of fear-mongering against the American Muslim community which marginalizes and cast suspicion upon loyal Americans," Dawud Walid, Executive Director of CAIR-MI said on his blog.

CAIR-Chicago Files Complaint Against the City Colleges of ChicagoCAIR-Chicago filed a complaint in federal court today against The City Colleges of Chicago on behalf of an African-American Muslim instructor at Kennedy-King College, Thomas Rasheed, who was denied tenure in Fall 2010.

(SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, 11/28/12) -- The San Antonio, Texas, chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-San Antonio) today called on federal law enforcement authorities to consider bringing charges against a man arrested Tuesday for vowing to "shoot as many people as possible" at a local mosque.

The man arrested for allegedly making the terroristic threat, 44-year-old Christopher Bane, reportedly said he was going to use a .45 caliber handgun to kill Muslims at the mosque. Bane was charged with a Class B misdemeanor.

"The terroristic threat allegedly made by this individual requires more serious charges than a single misdemeanor," said CAIR-San Antonio President Sarwat Husain. "We urge federal law enforcement authorities to consider more serious charges that will send a message to all those who might consider such an attack on a house of worship."

She also suggested that Bane's bail be raised substantially due to the deadly nature of the threat.

Husain said CAIR's New York chapter recently called on the FBI to investigate an apparently bias-motivated assault on a Queens man of Afghan heritage who was stabbed repeatedly outside a mosque by an attacker shouting anti-Muslim comments.

In October, CAIR's Washington state chapter (CAIR-WA) called on the FBI to investigate an apparent anti-Muslim hate attack on a Sikh taxi driver in that state. The driver was allegedly attacked by a man shouting anti-Muslim slurs after he commented on the cabbie's turban. [NOTE: Sikh men who wear beards and turbans as part of their faith are often targeted by bigots who mistake them for Muslims.]

Other American Muslim institutions have been targeted during a recent spike in hate incidents. In September, CAIR called on the FBI to investigate hate vandalism at mosques in Virginia and New York. In August, CAIR asked authorities to investigate a suspicious fire at a mosque in Minnesota.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.